SAVE THE DATE!!!
THE SATURDAY KNIGHT LIVE CAFE AND ART AUCTION
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010!!!
Click
here for more information.
|
|
  
|
The Knights of Columbus, Council #11319 serves the Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish and its pastor. Our parish is named for
"The Saint of Auschwitz", the Polish priest who died so that another
man might live. Saint Maximilian Kolbe was canonized a saint on October 10, 1982 by Pope John Paul II. Our Council was founded in the Spring of 1994 by thirty-five men from our Parish. At the time, our Parish was only eight years old, but was (and still is) experiencing enormous growth. Our Founding Grand Knight was Stephen Byrne. Our Council membership has grown to approximately 100 men. We hold our meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the ground-floor room (entrance on the right/south side)of the Rectory at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church at 15 East Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester. Contact us or get a map. Becoming a Knight Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to Catholic men, who are at least 18 years of age on their last birthday. Application forms are available from any member of the Knights of Columbus. Any Knight may propose eligible Catholic men for consideration as members. Acceptance of the applicant depends upon a vote of the members of the Council in which he is making application. Application for membership must be made through the Council in the community nearest the applicant's place of residence. Interested prospects without a permanent domicile, such as men temporarily away from home through duty in the armed forces, may make application through their hometown council or at the nearest council on a military base. If favorably voted upon, the applicant becomes a member by initiation known as the First Degree. He subsequently is advanced through the Second Degree and the Third Degree. As a member of the Council, there are annual dues of $35. Insurance privileges are available to all Council members who can qualify, which represents an important advantage of membership. For men in every walk of life the name "Knights of Columbus" engenders the image of a united organization, efficiently going about it tasks of charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism and defense of the priesthood. It is composed of men who are giving unselfishly of their time and talents in service of God and their country. Membership in the Knights of Columbus provides opportunity for association with parishioners who are, first of all, Catholic gentlemen. It offers the opportunity for fellowship with those who are of the same beliefs, who recognize the same duty to God, to family and to neighbor and who stand side by side in defense of those beliefs. Programs are organized to appeal to the individual interest of the members. Through many constructive activities of Christian fraternity, members are enabled to render service to their Church, their country and their fellowman. Through membership they develop a consciousness of their ability to lead and to assist. Knights of Columbus has a proud heritage. The qualified Catholic man can share in that heritage and build an even greater future by affiliating himself with this forceful, effective body. The Patriotic Degree Another degree open to members of the Knights of Columbus is that of the Fourth (or Patriotic) Degree. On February 22, 1900, the first exemplification of that degree was held in New York City. The ritual added patriotism to the three original principles of the Order: charity, unity and fraternity. Any Third Degree member in good standing, one year after the anniversary of his First Degree, is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups called assemblies. Fourth Degree members must retain their membership as Third Degree members in the local council to remain in good standing. Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity which has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus organization. Activities Parish Picnic The annual parish event is held each year to celebrate the Feast Day of our Patron Saint Maximilian Kolbe and to commemorate the 20th anniversary of our parish. The picnic is sponsored by our pastor with assistance from the Knights of Columbus and is free to all Parishioners. Change for Life During the Lenten season, the Knights sponsor its Change for Life fundraising activity. Parishioners are given a baby bottle and are asked to fill the bottle with loose change to support Pro-Life activities within the community. The parish has been extremely generous in supporting this important cause. Comedy Knight Comedy Knight is held in November, and is always great fun. Proceeds from the event will support local charities, parish needs and educational support stipends. Easter Egg Hunt The Knights host an Easter Egg Hunt each year on the parish grounds for children up to the age of 10. The event is held on the Saturday before Easter. Essay Contest Each Spring, the Knights sponsor an essay contest for eighth grade students at Saint Maximilian Kolbe School. The topic of the essay is: Responsibility of the Catholic Citizen in a Free Society. The winning student receives an award at the end-of-year graduation ceremony. Substance Abuse Awareness Each year, the Knights sponsor a substance abuse awareness contest for students at Saint Maximilian Kolbe School. Students create posters to heighten awareness of alcohol and drug abuse. Each poster must include a slogan reflecting the topic and an original visual image. The winner receives a savings bond from the Knights. Free Throw Competition In January, the Knights host a free throw shooting competition for boys and girls in the community who are 10 to 14 years of age. The competition is held at the Saint Maximilian Kolbe School gym. Winners in each category advance to the District competition in February and have the opportunity to advance to the Regional and State competitions. Crab Cake Sale Periodically, the Knight will sponsor crab cake sales for the parish community. The proceeds from the sales are returned to the parish and community in the form of donations. Pro-Life Join us on the first Saturday of each month for the Pro-Life Mass and Procession at 8am at Saint Agnes Church. For information on the Knights' Pro-Life activities, contact Charlie Carbo or Bob Borowski. |